If I wrote the same poem each time
there would be nothing new to rhyme.
If I wrote the same ad each week
no new words could others seek.

Even the most simple passage
written afresh from scratch,
has more new content
than messages repeated in batch.

So I write new words each week
for others to agree or disdain.
At least monotony
won't drive them all insane.

-- The day of Rest [ju3]

The Order of the Yellow Peacocks is undertaking and expedition for the
Royal Geographic Society. We are journeying to the southeastern corner
of the map. If anyone has any objections, comments, suggestions or
anything else, I would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact
me at rww@ica.net.

-- Order of the Yellow Peacocks [rk8]

The Spanish Inquisition is currently undertaking an expedition for the
Royal Geographical Society. The Comfy Chair [im9k] is sailing to
lands where no noble has gone before. But if YOU are standing
already on the "new" land, do not feel disturbed and please have
patience with this inquisitive explorers.

Wurnas, Captain of the Comfy Chair [k6d]

-- Spanish Inquisition [sg3]

--=RGS=-- Announcement --=RGS=--

NEW MEMBERSHIP

It give us great pleasure to announce the addition of The Circle and Staff
[wj4] as a Charter Member of the Society. The Circle and Staff have agreed
to conduct an Expedition to the west, and will be setting forth from IC
shortly. Welcome aboard, brethren!

THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY

is a non-political, non-aligned Organization devoted to the exploration of
Olympia and its environs. Each week, we publish our findings in the New
Atlas, which is distributed to the Membership at large. We are currently
seeking new Members, who must be Factions in good standing, and who must
also satisfy the following criteria:

* Charter Membership. A large, one-time gift of new mapping
information, or agreement to undertake an RGS Expedition, or a
significant contribution of resources in support of the Society and
its cause. Charter Members are announced each week in the Olympia
Times. They receive updates of the New Atlas on a regular basis, and
gain access to the RGS archives.

* Affiliate Membership. Any reasonable contribution of new mapping
information entitles a Faction to Affiliate status. The identities
of our Affiliates are kept strictly secret. They receive an update
of the Atlas upon each submission of new information.

ASSISTANCE FOR STARTING FACTIONS

The Society extends the hand of friendship to all recently-formed
Factions. We will send any such Faction one copy of the New Atlas, free
of obligation, together with whatever advice and assistance our humble
Organization can provide.

For more information, contact our Representative, the Honorable Brett
Miller, at 103534.1454@compuserve.com .

Monthly notice: every new visitor to either of
our two fair isles should notify us in advance.
(Yes, even just Royal Geographers mapping here)

-- The Crazy Quilters [vn7]

Barman Fruitbat (aka Fredrick Brewster) surveyed the damaged inn. The
beams were cracked, there was dry rot in the walls, and those tables
needed a good wash down. With a few days work sprucing up the plaster
work as well, Hurricane Alley would be open again. It'd been a long time
since Fruitbat had manned the pumps, but the fellows in Yardstrae had
stumped up some money and a contact and he'd be back doing the job he
loved again.

-- Fruitbat [h2q]

The location for the Web site is http://194.177.182.12/olympia/

We apologise for the lack of communication from the Bank at
present. We are in the process of moving. Jobs and Homes!

-- First Bank of Provinia [y6v]

Final results for the Brotherhood of All Factions: 11 for, 2 against, and
2 undecided, with 12% participation overall.

We are forced to conclude this is an idea whose time hasn't come. Still,
the RGS will continue to do all in its power to foster good relations
between the various Olympian factions. And should popular support for this
kind of idea ever arise, we would be honored to serve, in any capacity.

To those of you who expressed an interest in the Brotherhood: We commend
your progressive attitude, and enjoin you to stay in touch.

To those who offered constructive criticism: We applaud your honesty, and
wish you well in all things.

--=-- SIC TRANSIT GLORIA --=--

-- Bartholomew [p5i]

Customer Testamonial on behalf of the First Bank of Provinia

Greetings, Provinians! My name's Jack and these are my beans.
I'm a trader. I travel Provinia buying and selling the finest
beans and linen. How did I get this great career? The First
Bank of Provinia gave me a small-business loan. That's how.
They have everything a businessman like myself could need:
low-interest loans, high interest rates, newbie bonuses,
warehouse facilities, shipping services... What else could
you ask for?

So take it from me, Jaques et ses Haricots, don't wind up lying
in the gutters of Imperial City weaving baskets. Stop by the
First Bank of Provinia. You'll be glad you did.

-- Jaques et ses Haricots [x1a]

Rumors

They call me Mr. Putterman...

. . . or altair-ations? . . . B-)

The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.

The day of Rest [ju3] Said:
> There once were three men in a boat
> Who were trying to sail in the moat.
> When asked of their cause
> They cited the blahs
> and tried to sell me their goat.

I think it scans better if you change the last line to
"and offered to sell me their goat."

Someone Asked:
> where is everbody else?

Everywhere else.

Someone Else Said:
> God doesn't play dice.
> -- Albert Einstein

I believe the correct quote is "God doesn't play at dice."

Still Someone Else Asked:
> I just saw a castle sink into the swamp. Is that common?

You'd have to be daft to build a castle in a swamp. Cities are much
better places.

The kind of tax that scares newbies into staying in port. If he was a
real pirate (which he seems to be trying to imply), he'd strike
without warning. It's only a rumor. Trust me.

Finally, an Inquiring Someone Asked:
> Q:What is the the nightsky over Olympia like?
> Are there any stars and moons, or is it that the great god Atnerks
> decided to cover the sky with clouds forever?

Yes, my research through ancient manuscripts (mostly back issues of
the Times) finds several mentions of stars, including mentions in
the opening poetry on turns 20, 25, and 34. These bits of poetry
(sadly, not seen since turn 68 - well there was a quote on turn 70,
but it wasn't a poem) are widely held to have come from Atnerks
himself, so if stars are mentioned in them, then stars there must
be.

Judging from the vast number of references to the moon and
moonlight, it would appear that Olympia has at least one moon.
The vast majority of direct references to a moon refer to "the
moon", so it appears that there is a sigular moon.

In fact, only one reference implies multiple moons (Olympia Times,
turn 9). However, this reference says "Three moons filled the
night sky, confounding those who claimed that last month there
were only two." It also refers to an Orc barking at midnight, and
as everyone knows, orcs don't bark at midnight, they howl (and
then only when someone steps on their toes at midnight). It is
therefore generally considered to be the ravings of a madman.

We may therefore safely conclude that there is one moon, and multiple
stars.

-- The Answer Guy

Egads!! After missing four turns I'm told to clean up after myself
before I quit. Gees, now I'm hooked again! How did the Emperor do
that???

The Olympian Peoples Front hereby declare
war on the AOO. You have three months to vacate
the Chateau and return all captured nobles
to their rightful owners or you will feel
the wrath of the people. Viva Zapata ! Viva
El Presidente.

Red Storm Rising

Anyone playing in Atlantis want to say anything about the differences
or similarities with Olympia? Might encourage some of us to look into it.

Dark letters
Words writen in blindness
A quiet game at night
Recovery of lost presents
A Gust from a hot wind
Blood touch by the night

--- Not anymore in the Hospital

To all those who post only relevant rumours, I thank you. You are the
ones who make Olympia such a wonderful place. May Atnerks smile upon
you. Too all those who post irrelevant rumours, for the sole purpose
of receiving the payment, I say please do not continue to do so, it
does not please Atnerks to have useless rumours posted in his beloved
newspaper.
The Protectorate of the Sacred Rumor
XXXX

>Personnally, I'm getting sick and tired of the RGS postings.

Our apologies, good sir. It is necessary to get the word out each and
every turn. If we did not do this, how would new players ever become
aware of the services we offer?

>And what's with all these charter members? I think the honorable Brett
>Miller should look up the word charter.

It is true; we may be guilty here of taking *too* long a view of things.
There is so much of the Great Work left to do, we tend to think of the
Society as still being in its formative stages. In that sense, *every* new
member is a Charter member. However, your point is well taken, and we
will consider the possibilities.

>And what's with all this Brotherhood junk? I think the honorable Brett
>Miller should get his head out of the clouds and bring himself back to
>reality.

Good point. I direct the kind sir to Bartholomew's announcement regarding the
Brotherhood, which can be found elsewhere in this issue of the Times.

-- The Hon. Brett Miller, for the Society

I wish I knew what to say.

Has anybody else noticed how many answer
guys have appeared lately ? Will the real
one please stand up.

arrrrr, this brain tastes good!

Gold for the greedy!

Marcus Pinkus rules the waves!
(oh, and to continue sowing fear, confusion,
ignorance & mistrust, I admit to posting at
least four rumors for the last several turns
with XXXX)

Et sequitur nimbi

Oh, well! Someone is already made it to this "new land"
before me.

I bought some used paint,
but I wonder if it is any good.
Just what shape should it be in?

Mines shaped like a house.

> They call me Mr. Putterman...

I think they'll call you something else if these
repetitive postings keep up...

Are there any inner locations left to be conquered?
Or have the AOO cleared them all out?

The Sunlight Man is a bit insane.
He likes the rain.

I'm going out in a blaze of dragon dung. Hold your nose,
give Hercules a call, this is getting ugly.

first, last, what does it matter?

We have been wondering when the first misinformation
concerning our "XXXX" append request would show up.
And now our question have been answered. To the
anonymous faction who alleged that I am Marat: Don't
be absurd. If I were Marat, why would I bother to try
to stir anti-AOO sentiments? And if you know I am not,
then why would you want to impede our task? XXXX